"We had some information around a stolen vehicle from the Bourke area overnight and detectives at Moree were out and about this morning and spotted a person initially and took him into custody straight away," he said.

"They then followed that up with some good work and located a vehicle, we'll allege is probably stolen, with the other two escapees inside."

The minimum security inmates were discovered missing on Wednesday.

The men were apprehended in the vehicle in Mehi Crescent about 24 hours after they escaped.

They were charged with escaping lawful custody, aggravated break and enter with intent to commit a serious indictable offence, and with stealing a car without consent.

One of the men was also charged with goods in custody.

All three were refused bail and appeared at Inverell Local Court on Friday.